98 HEREDITr. 



identity between 1 and A, 2 and B, and 3 and C. 



The nourishing of the three gemmules will result, 

 therefore, not in changing A into B, or B into C, or 

 the reverse, but in changing A into a second 1, B 

 into a second 2, C into a second 3. When, now, tins 

 result has been accomplished, how shall we account 

 for the arrangement of the newly developed parts in 

 the proper manner ? Every thing turns on their being 

 collocated as 1, 2, and 3, and in no other order. 

 Here conies into Darwin's theory, therefore, in spite 

 of his theistic concessions as to the origin of the first 

 germs, the great and vague materialistic word " affin- 

 ity." When the gemmules have begun to be devel- 

 oped, " elective affinities " start up between them, and 

 they arrange themselves in the order exhibited by 

 the parts of the original animal. We understand 

 none too well how a single gem mule develops itself 

 into a form like its parent. The permutations that 

 may be rung on three nu'mbers are very considerable ; 

 but soon we shall see gemmules choosing the one 

 right combination out of all permutations possible in 

 billions and trillions of numbers. It is not abso- 

 lutely inconceivable, however, that, when an animal 

 has three separate parts, a gemmule from each part 

 should, by its physical identity with the part from 

 which it comes, inherit the property of developing 

 into that part. But, on Darwin's implied theory of 

 life, what causes these three parts to put themselves 

 together in the proper way? Were either gemmule 

 to forget its place, we should have a singular animal 

 in the progress of that development. In the hurling 



